Former maternity hotel in Chino Hills for sale for $3.3 million

CHINO HILLS -- The infamous former maternity hotel in this city is up for sale, and it isn't cheap.

Priced at $3.3 million, the hilltop mansion at 15250 Woodglen Drive - owned by Hai Yong Wu - has been listed by the Rowland Heights-based IRN Reality for 21 days.

Real estate experts are questioning details in the listing, its agent and, considering the home's celebrity status over the past four months, contend it may make for a difficult sale.

A public nuisance complaint filed Dec. 7 with the court detailed how the 7,964-square-foot house was in violation of several code enforcement laws, including illegally converting the seven bedrooms and six 1/2-bathrooms into a 17-bedroom maternity hotel operation.

The real estate listing for the home says it has seven bedrooms, seven bathrooms and the original square footage, but the description also says, "according to the buyer (seller) the size of property is around 15,000 square feet - over 10 bedrooms with six detached garages and plenty of parking spaces. "

The discrepancy over the property's description will pose a problem if the buyer does not pay cash. If financed, an appraisal will reveal the apparent inaccuracies, Ritoli said.

Also, the listing agent to the property is Xiaoshun "Sabrina" Chen, the same person who is the contact person to the Woodglen property on the city's code violation notice.

The house gained notoriety after city and law enforcement officials as well as community members learned it was being used as a maternity hotel. It was alleged that wealthy women from China stayed at the house before and after giving birth at local hospitals. The woman had traveled to the United States so their children could be born on American soil and become citizens.

Through a court-ordered inspection in November, city officials discovered that the residence has been used to house as many as 30 women. Each room had matching bedding and furniture, monogrammed towels and a portable hot water kettle, according to court documents.

A temporary restraining order was filed by the city against the owners of the house on Dec. 27 in West Valley Superior Court in Rancho Cucamonga.

Despite a failed court appearance by Wu in January, city officials and Wu's attorney Stephen Shepard entered into an agreement or "stipulated judgement" in February to bring the controversial home up to city code in 210 days.

City officials said they will continue to enforce city codes to bring the house into compliance.

"The judgment might make it difficult for a buyer to get a loan for the property, which may make it less marketable. However, the city cannot directly prevent someone from purchasing the property," Chino Hills attorney Mark Hensley said.

The grassroots group Not in Chino Hills spokeswoman Rossana Mitchell is concerned Wu will be able to walk away from the home without facing any penalties. The group was critical of the house in late 2012 and early this year.

Not in Chino Hills members said the maternity hotel was taking advantage of the 14th Amendment, which says if a child is born in the United States he or she should receive a birth certificate and is therefore granted citizenship. The amendment does not mention children of illegal immigrants or children born to parents who are temporary visitors.

As natural citizens, the children will have rights such as voting, Social Security, the ability to apply to various schools that non-citizens might find difficult to qualify for and eventually petition for their parents to come to the United States.

"He can now sell it to a third party and never feel any pain for the violations he permitted," Mitchell said.

Hensley said the city has submitted the judgment to Chen, and she is obligated to provide it to any perspective purchaser.

"We have also submitted the judgment to be recorded against the property," he said. "If you check the property records it will show up when you review the title."

Moreover, Hensley said, if the property is sold, the new owner will be responsible for bringing the home up to code.

If Wu sells the home without disclosing what the buyer is getting involved with, he could be sued or in breach of the contract, said Kat Hegg, owner of Hegg Team Realty, Inc.

"The ticking time bomb is they have all these code violations ... and if this agent does not do the proper disclosure, she's in violation of California law and in danger of losing her license," Hegg said.

The home is currently vacant.

Calls to Wu's lawyer and multiple phone calls and emails to Chen were not returned.